For the second time in two years, Felicity Jones stands out playing a woman who refuses to be relegated to a mere supporting role in the biopic of a great man.

Last year in “The Invisible Woman,” Jones portrayed the illicit, long-term love of Charles Dickins. And now in “The Theory of Everything,” she”s the loyal, steadfast wife of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

“What I love is that these films both explore female lives that you don”t always see in films,” says Jones. “I love that (”The Theory of Everything”) is balanced between understanding Stephen Hawking, this incredible icon, (and) also … seeing the domestic side of this person”s life and the personal side. Those stories are as valuable as the stories of fame and success.”

Hawking, of course, is the scientist who made landmark discoveries while suffering from ALS, and the film is a showcase for a remarkable performance by Eddie Redmayne, who plays Hawking through each stage of the disease. But more than that, “The Theory of Everything,” directed by James Marsh, is a portrait of a marriage — one which endured largely because of Jane Wilde Hawking”s uncommon strength.

“It”s Jane”s point of view that starts the whole screenplay,” says Marsh. “So her performance has to be the equal of Eddie”s technically (and) emotionally.” The film is based on Jane Wilde Hawking”s memoir, “Traveling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen.”

“That”s what drew me to the project,” Jones says in an interview. “The film explores this woman not only being a caregiver and a mother, but also having her own academic identity, her own career desires, yet at the same time having a sexual identity. And I felt like there was something revolutionary in this.”

The Hawkings met as students at Cambridge University, and the early days of their relationship coincided with the diagnosis of Hawking, at 21, as suffering from a motor neuron disease. Though the scientist, now 72, was then expected to live only a few years, Jane married him, and the couple had three children together.

Just as exceptional as Hawking”s scientific genius was Jane”s strength. “I know I don”t look like a terribly strong person,” Jane says in the film as she decides to remain with Hawking, “but we”re going to fight this.”

The film, on which Jane consulted, follows their relationship through its uncommon challenges and its eventual, open-minded dissolution. Jones spent months researching the role and preparing to play Jane from youth to old age.

“It was one of those projects where you really take it home with you, and you become those characters,” says the 31-year-old British actress. “I was just in awe of how this couple adapted.”

Critics are speculating that Jones” performance just might lead to her first Oscar nomination.

And Marsh says, “She fought for her character — Felicity was tenacious in fighting for this strong woman to be as strong as she could be.”